Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-09-05

~AssA% ann Gf&Nk> NS> -CtAAA- QUSNA.
She shut herself in her little house
without servant or friend, and gave
welcome 70 no one that called. Ii
leaked cut that she had drawn every
cent OF her money from the hank.
znd would only receive returns and
dividends from her interests in the
oil wells in cash paid into her own
hands. Ii wa> concluded that she
h0arJie,i all this money in her home.
Nearly 4 year passed; two more
checks had been sent 70 the town
bank. The cashier was suspicious NJ
the trSt: he became convinced: re
turned them with information that
Ms Davis had no hank account
ROW. and said nothing 70 the widow.
The man who signed those checks
zn>g have drawn his own and correct
conclusions.
There had been ten DAYS Of contin-
COu> pouring rain over country and
town AIMS home was still in the
little two-storv frame house. 1t
Sood at the base OF hill along the
upper side OF which. on s ledge a
Hundred and nifty feet higher than
her roof. ran the tracks Of a railroad.
There had been trouble on the road
s. that point for week. the water
trnm the still higher hills had gather
e there in great mass. the usual
channels being unable TO carry OF the
f}od.
II was the last night Of the storm !;
the elements seemed 10 riot in a final
Effort In the beating rain. the roll
ing thunder and bowling wind. Ann
Davis did not hear two men forcing
te door OF her lonely dwelling. She
KEW nothing OF their entrance until
light was flashed in her face from :
hltern. Two masked men were at
her bedside.
You have pile Of money in this
h9u<e. said one. give II TO Us and
vel do no harm If you don't we'u
murder YOU"
Ann was brave. she sprang 10 a
window and shrieked aloud for help.
The storm drove her voice in upon
LeE. Strong hands seized her. but
she fought them furiously. Her nails
tore the mask from OF one who grasp
ed her arms. There was 4 dazzling
fash OF lightning By its light she
recognized him. her son. Her arms
and body became limp. her head
dropped upon her breast
Take all. Clinton. il was for you,
anyhow. The chest kev / under my
plLEcr--- the chest i IN your old room.
Take il au. Clinton. but kill me be
fore YOU go.'
Then she fell 10 hystericaI crying
and screaming. While the other rob
Der secured the KEY. her son tried for
q moment 10 quiet her. Failing. with
an oath. he said. You want 70 be
killed and I'll do it: l amt going to
be Jagged when the jobs this near
done"
The vile fingers closed about the
throat that he once had circIed with
his infant arms; the murderous grasp
cightened: the wide open eyes Of his
his mother looked into his own. but
met no glance Of pity or remorse in
them
Hurry. man" said the other bur
glar: .'Iet's get the swag and be OF"
Tighter grew the grip. \ moment
more would finish the weary. sad life.
What was that noise: Something
more than the storm.
The house was lifted. rocked sent
whirIing around. Through the doors
and windows and great holes burst in
the frame end. came an ocean Of wa
ter and stones. railroad ties, and tim
bers. iron rails. earth and branches
Of trees. It swept all before II. car
ried the house 200 yards, forced out
the front and obtained an outlet
! mass Of shattered. scattered
planks alone remained Of Ann Davis
house when the landslide. from the
track above finally stopped. q thou
sand feet away
The neighb0rs fastened 70 the res
cue. The widow was found but little
injured. One Of the party noticed 3
hand projecting from the earth: two
feet under he unearthed q body. 3
shapeIess mass except the face. By
his lantern light he recognized Gin
ton Davis. The other villains corpse
was discovered under ten feet Of ref
use.
When Ann Davis was told Of the
finding Of her sons body, though "
ing sick unto death at the house Of a
kind neighbor, she lied still more 70
preserve his memory: said she knew
he and 3 friend were coming To visit
her. but she had given Asem up on
account II the storm.
They must have arrived and been
walking 70 the house wheE thatawful
landslide overlook them. she said.
The neighbor.wbo found ets boy
was the bank cashier. He wobdered. !
how II was, if Clinton la not Sbeen
At the house, he Happened 70 kaye q
1T of torn lace, a. from the ned Of
; night dress, in bis stiffeDed fhgers,
bat b. said nothing.
The money safe was discovered.
The two dead men we're buried bv